Antifa is no threat, but Trump’s designation is
Brick, N.J.: The fundamental reason President Trump insisted upon officially naming Antifa a domestic terrorist organization is to squelch a letter like this one. Like so many other of his words and actions, the president is very busy snuffing out free speech and a free press in his kingdom! He might soon forbid freedom of thought!
Antifa is a shortened form of “anti-fascist.” The Trump administration is acting exactly as the fascist regimes of Spain, Italy and Germany acted about a century ago. In each case, these regimes were led by and ruled absolutely by a dictator. With each executive order, Trump demonstrates his fascism (thanks to the Supreme Court majority of Quislings granting him immunity for crimes committed while in office).
This recent development will crush all dissent against fascism. Under this abracadabra legerdemain, this letter is immediately attacked as the propaganda of a domestic terrorist organization. Its consideration by an editor is also folded into a plot against the president, and publishing it invites the newspaper’s extrajudicial shutdown by the government!
In today’s so-called America, thinking about, composing or publishing any and all letters of dissent mentioning the word “fascist” or “fascism” constitutes terrorist activities by domestic terrorists. Citizens and newspapers expecting the Bill of Rights to mean anything in this Trump era will instead be targeted as terrorists! The only terrorist organization in this particular situation is the president with his mob of un-American enforcers! Nicholas S. Molinari
It’s his way
Howard Beach: To Voicer Frank Feeley: Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. The orange felon loves to belittle people by calling them absurd names. Listen to his UN address, which was embarrassing. He is fair game since he started the fire to begin with. James Bisciello
Don’t expect much
Hyde Park, N.Y.: I read with interest Voicer Tom Rozinski’s letter. While I was mostly in agreement, I wish he had added more context. I’m on board with Erika Kirk’s statement, “The answer to hate is not hate.” Who wouldn’t be? The problem is immediately after that, our president stated, “I hate my opponent.” Dearest Tom, therein lies the sticking point: No matter how noble or sincere Mrs. Kirk may be, she will never be anything to the president but another chip to throw on the table when the dealer gives him the signal. I wish you well in your search for heroes, and may I recommend a man known as Jesus Christ? Mike Fenwick
Petulant politics
Manhattan: Here we are again. Very soon, the country will “run out of money” unless a new budget is put into place. I find it amazing that the American people have to go through this hijacking again and again. Why does it always come down on the backs of the people? I continue to wait for sensible politics that will solve these petty political games — something that brings together the needs of the people and the politicians. I look for someone, a leader, to start putting things into place. Alas, it looks like that leadership is smoke in the wind. The leader in my White House seems incapable of leadership, refuses to talk with anyone who opposes him and suggests that a sensible solution to a budget crisis might be to fire federal employees. Don Cerrone
Fickle & feckless
Howard Beach: In a complete reversal of his thinking about the Russia/Ukraine war, Trump is now saying that NATO countries should shoot down Russian planes that enter their airspace, and that with European support, Ukraine can get all its land back. With Trump, you never know how long he will hold these positions. Ukraine shouldn’t be too hopeful just yet. Barbara Berg
Rogue rulers
Swarthmore, Pa.: Israel’s military has launched a new ground offensive targeting Gaza City, escalating its war against Hamas as Trump’s efforts to bring an end to the conflict have failed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a “powerful operation” is underway in the Palestinian enclave, saying his country is at a “crucial stage” in the war. This news comes after Trump said earlier this month, “We’re going to have a deal on Gaza very soon.” Netanyahu’s defiance of Trump can be added to that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has metaphorically spat in Trump’s face. Rather than a ceasefire, Putin has resorted to a major escalation. It might well be said that with friends like these two, who needs enemies? The question is, how long will he tolerate it, and when and how will he respond? After all, this is no way to treat the self-avowed “ruler of the world.” Ken Derow
Full of bad ideas
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: I refuse to take medical advice from a TV pitchman, a convicted felon and a former heroin addict who had a worm in his brain. Bob English
Scrapped justice
Bronx: The completely meritless indictment of former FBI Director James Comey — and we know it’s meritless because career federal prosecutors have repeatedly warned DOJ that its case against Comey has no merit — is just the latest in the terrifying, horrifying, rapid descent of our democracy into one where the rule of law has vanished. Sen. Adam Schiff of California has repeatedly said that all the dreadful actions this administration has taken would be reversed if only a small number of Republican senators and representatives would join Democrats in ending this very real destruction of our democracy. Do none of the members of the GOP in Congress care about what sort of country their children and grandchildren will live in if we don’t stop the president and his minions from continuing on their destructive path? Miriam Levine Helbok
Extracurricular arrests
Staten Island: Doesn’t Brad Lander have a job? Yet, as city comptroller, he’s attending multiple demonstrations and getting himself arrested for obstructing law enforcement. Most of the time, it’s for matters he has no jurisdiction over and is during business hours. Who’s authorizing this, and who’s minding the store during his absence? Brian O’Leary
Is he ready?
Manhattan: Re “Welcome to New Jax City” (column, Sept. 24): Quarterbacks are like brisket, you have to wait patiently until they’re ready. I hope the G-Men are starting rookie Jaxson Dart because they feel he’s far along in his development and not merely giving in to the popular opinion of Giants fanatics. What happened to the coach’s line about “no sense of urgency”? Adam Silbert
Questioning the queue
Raleigh, N.C.: The TSA airline queues require a lot of walking through the entire line for every ticketed passenger. Why not just use straight queues that are the same length? Once the first queue is full, start the new line. The lines would go in order and not require the enormous amount of walking the current ones do. A TSA employee could manage them by opening and closing the queue gates in the order they’re needed. This would be more sensible and relieve all the walking. Wouldn’t all passengers appreciate this method more than the current one? Joseph John Rothengast
Tariffs lesson
Manhattan: If an importer bought items from another country with no tariff that cost $50, a keystone markup would have it sell retail for $100. After an NYC sales tax, that would come to just shy of $109. With a 30% tariff, that item costs him $65. A keystone markup would sell it for $130, and with sales tax, a total of about $142 — $23 more. Those who think the importer should only mark it up by the extra $15 he pays don’t understand that as prices go up, so does inflation, and things he needs to buy for his business now cost him more (likely due to tariffs) and his employees want raises to keep up with the times. Where would he get this needed money? As the Republican-majority Congress has abrogated its responsibility to be the sole enactor of tariffs, this means (double) taxation without representation. Manny Greitzer
Tax the rich
Providence, R.I.: Re “Billionaires could soon face more taxing times” (op-ed, Sept. 25): Tax the greedy billionaires / Make them pay their proper shares / Rather than enrich their heirs / It’s our country, not just theirs. Felicia Nimue Ackerman
